David Van Cortlandt Crosby was an American musician and singer-songwriter died on January 18, 2023, at the age of 81.
David Crosby was an accomplished American musician and singer-songwriter, who made significant contributions to the genres of folk rock and psychedelia. He gained initial fame as a member of the Byrds in the mid-1960s, and later as part of the popular supergroup, Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Crosby's musical talents were evident from an early age, and he began performing in the folk music scene before co-founding the Byrds in 1964. With the Byrds, he helped pioneer folk rock and psychedelia, and the band's cover of
Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" became a number-one hit in 1965. Crosby played a pivotal role in the Byrds' first five albums, as well as the original lineup's 1973 reunion album.In 1968, Crosby formed Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. The group won the
Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1969, after the release of their debut album. Neil Young occasionally joined the group, resulting in the formation of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY). The core trio of CSN remained active from 1976 until 2016, and the duo of Crosby & Nash recorded three gold albums in the 1970s. The group's reunions were held in each decade from the 1970s through the 2000s.
In addition to his work with the Byrds and CSN(Y), Crosby released eight solo albums over the course of his career, including his solo debut, If I Could Only Remember My Name, in 1971. His last five solo albums were released in the last decade of his life, beginning with Croz in 2014. Crosby also formed a jazz-influenced trio with his son James Raymond and guitarist Jeff Pevar in CPR, and frequently appeared on recordings by other artists, such as Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and David Gilmour.
Crosby's immense musical talent and contributions earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once for his work with the Byrds and again for his work with CSN. His
combined work with the Byrds and CSNY has sold over 35 million albums, and five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", three with the Byrds and two with CSN(Y).
David Van Cortlandt Crosby will be remembered as a trailblazer in the music industry, who left an indelible mark on the world of music and inspired generations of musicians with his artistry and unique sound.
(August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023)
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